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Financing Your Next Purchase The Smart Way

If you ever decide that your monthly pay packet just isn't

enough to fund your chosen lifestyle there's help on hand.

There are literally hundreds of finance companies out there

just waiting for you to pick up the phone and place your

order. $500 or $100,000 - how much would you like? Sure we

can help you, just let us get our claws into any sort of

asset you may have managed to acquire (in the days when you

or your partner/parents used to save) and we'll give you

the cash.

Why would anyone want to save for that new couch when you

could have it today - no deposit, interest free for 12

months? Tempting, very tempting and it could be in your

lounge tomorrow. While you're at it why not take home a

nice rug to keep the kids' feet warm. This one here goes

perfectly with your new couch. Once your finance application

has been approved you can throw in the rug and just add

it on to the balance. It couldn't be easier and it couldn't

be more dangerous.

Sooner or later it all has to be paid for and that's not

just the price of the couch but also the price of the money

used to buy the couch all those months ago. By the time your

lounge is starting to look a bit dated and faded and the cat

has scratched the rug bare you're probably about halfway

through your relentless, monthly payment schedule.

It's no wonder finance companies get a bad rap. We deliver the

goods, whether it's a new couch, new car or even a new house -

we guarantee immediate satisfaction. The problem is that as your

satisfaction wanes our bill grows and one way or another, you

will pay. So we start to control you and your life - the one

thing that New Zealanders value above all else, their freedom -

is eroded.

But hang on a minute here. If it weren't for finance companies

none of us would own the houses we live in, none of us would

be able to invest and reap the rewards of interest income. The

impetus behind economic growth comes from people's ability to

borrow, say, $5 for every $1 they own. Then you get any return

on $5 rather than your measly $1. Borrowing money is smart if

you do it right!

As long as you invest your borrowed money in something that

earns more than your cost of borrowing it - it makes sense.

Buying appreciating assets, investment properties, upgrading

property to sell on or funding income-producing businesses

does make sense.

One of the most important things is to match your funding to

your project. Keep the term of the loan the same as the term

of the project. If you are borrowing to purchase a property,

upgrade it and then sell it on - structure the loan to match

this. Keep control of your investments and don't let them

control you. Make sure you use a finance company with integrity

and a reputation for repeat business. Your finance company

should be your partner, not your parasite.

Article written by Louise O'Brien.

Author Bio::

------------

Louise O'Brien

financial planner WA

comprehensive wealth management WA

email: jupita_fanklin12@yahoo.com

This article is free for republishing
Source: http://www.articlealley.com/article_87075_19.html